You know every day I open up my yahoo to read mail and whatever is listed on the news for the day and today I came across this incredible story. 3 guys ran across the dessert totaling 4,000 miles in 111 days. Absolutely incredible. You need to read the article and can’t wait to see the documentary. And I thought I was an addicted runner, these guys are incredible.

Check out the site:

http://www.charlieengle.com/

you will have to copy and paste into your web browser but it is a great story.

Congrats to the three men that conquered this incredible task and proved that we are not insane runners, we are just humans trying to prove that we are all capable of anything.

Okay, so this past weekend was the Mercedes Marathon, half marathon, and BE5K. I only ran the 5k this year due to past experience of running the half marathon. However, not to go into any details the marathon and half marathon is probably one of the hardest around the country or at least that is what I am told. It has so many hills but they say the down hills is the killer part of the race. However, what I wanted to talk about today was the kids marathon. We have a kids marathon every year. It is a great experience. The rules to my understanding is that they have to qualify by running 25 miles before they can run the last 1.2 miles of their marathon at the Mercedes Kids Marathon. They get a whole year to do this. They only have to run 1 mile a week or more if they want. It is only for kindergarden to 6th grade children. We let them run in groups by age/class. It is really a great experience. However, this year was probably the best one yet. First, we had so many more children run. It was so much fun. But we had two very important children run the race. First was a young boy, I believe he was in either 1st grade or 2nd. Can’t remember which, but he was in a wheel chair. He pushed his way in the cold in that wheelchair with bare hands. He had a little trouble getting up the hill and I kind of helped him out but he did great. And it was so neat watching him finish. Then there was this one boy named Charles. I only remember his name because of the great attitude that he portrayed. You see he has braces on both his legs. He really has no use at all with his legs and he has these metal crutches that his arms go down in to help him be mobile. He literally walked with these crutches all 1.2 miles. And the greatest thing about him is the fact that he was smiling the whole way. His dad was walking with him and was so proud of him. Telling him how great he was doing, asking him if he was okay, seeing if he needed any help and this boy just smiled and told his dad he was doing good and that he was okay. He did so good all the way to the end. Just watching him push himself thru the disability that he has was probably the greatest experience. Watching him made me realize that I am very greatful for the fact that I can run, greatful for the fact that I can run a marathon, and also made me realize that I will never complain ever again about the fact that it is hard to run that far when I realize that a little 5 year old boy named Charles could do it in crutches and push himself thru life with the greatest attitude. Thank you Charles for being who you are, don’t ever change.

Okay, for all of you out there I truly do not believe in Valentine’s day. I don’t understand how anyone else can too. It is a day that you are required to buy your loved one something special and do something romantic. Well, just to let you know, that is so wrong in so many ways. I belive it is a Hallmark Conspiracy. Why I think this:

1. You should tell your loved one that you love them every day.
2. If you want to buy them something don’t wait for their birthday or a special occassion.
3. If you see something you really want to buy your loved one then get it, even if it is something really small, and give it to them that day. It will mean so much more.
4. If you want to do something romantic, do it on a day that he/she would never expect it. It will mean so much more.

The reason I believe all this is because my dad saw this little rock at a gas station that had writing on it. It says “When I count my blessings, I count you twice.” He said when he saw it he thought of my mom, so he bought it, $2, and he just gave it to her. It was not a special occassion, it was nothing. She tells everyone how he just bought this little rock for her just out of the blue and she has been telling everyone this story since the day he bought it for her years ago. So if you come to my house, you will have to hear the story.

Another cool thing my dad has done recently out of the blue, no special occassion, but he asked her to go with him to buy them both new wedding rings. You see my dad broke his finger a few months ago and they had to cut his wedding ring off. So he was going to get a new one and instead he called her and said you want to go to the mall with me and look at rings, he then told her he wanted to get matching rings. It was the sweetest story when my mom told me all about it.

You see, my dad is not the typical romantic guy, but when he sees something that just reminds him of his bride of 31 years he just gets it for her. It is a true love. They don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, they think that I am right when I say it is a Hallmark Conspiracy. (And this is the only time my parents have thought I was right about something. ha ha)

So next time you are out, and it is not a special occassion, you did not just get in a fight, and you just see something that reminds you of your loved one, just get it, who cares of the price, and just give it to them. It will mean so much more to them then getting them something for a holiday or birthday, etc.

Trust me, the unexpected means SO much more then the expected.

Okay, so I have decided to do the following races this year:

1. Louisville, KY on April 28th.
2. DC in October (Marine Corp)
3. Memphis Marathn (St. Jude) in December

I might do the following:
1. ING in Atlanta, GA in March
2. Rock N’ Roll in San Diego in June

Any suggestions for any good marathons out there let me know. I am trying to do one in every state so if you know any that are not in April, October, or December Let me know. I would like to do 5 marathons this year.

I am so frustrated with people lately. Why do humans have to talk about others and why do they have to gossip? I just don’t get it. I mean if you have something to say about someone just tell them to their face. Just be open and honest. I mean I am a very nice person but when you lie to me I really don’t want to talk anymore. If you try to gossip to me I don’t listen. I just like people for who they are. I don’t care to be mean, I don’t care to have others be mean around me.

Humans tend to love gossip, they tend to live and feed off of it. I just don’t understand why. Is it some type of thing in their brains that says uuuwweee that sounds great tell me more. I mean I just really don’t get it.

I have people all the time saying stuff about me behind my back and then others who hear it have to come running to me to tell me all about it. I don’t care what others say about me. I don’t even care what people think of me. However, if I am having a problem with someone I confront them, I talk to them about it.

I guess I was just raised to be open and honest about everything. If someone ask me a question I will always tell them the honest truth of what I think and all it is, is my opinion.

Life is to short to live off of others griefs, problems, etc. Stop talking about others and just work on making yourself better. In the long run, if you stopped gossiping and started working on your own values and beliefs you would be so much happier with your own life.

This is just all my opinion.